Editor’s Note

Editor’s Nnote

Aquin George

This is a great month for chefs in the UAE and the world over. After four long years, chefs from around the globe are expected to converge at the Worldchefs Congress in Abu Dhabi this month end.

The Congress, which usually takes place once every two years, had to be cancelled and dialled down in 2020 due to the pandemic. Thousands of chefs intending to visit the Congress in St. Petersburg, Russia abandoned their plans, and the efforts of the Russian culinarians never materialized.

This year the Emirates Culinary Guild and Worldchefs have come together along with Purple Kitchen Events, to put forth an event that is twice as big as the one four years ago in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. You will see seven major events take place under one roof!

That’s right, along with the Worldchefs Congress, the Global Chefs Challenge and the Billy Gallagher Young Chef Forum, the four-day culinary extravaganza will also witness the Young Chef African Cup competition, the world’s largest single chef competition - Salon Culinaire, a huge event for foodservice companies to make their mark through ExpoCulinaire, and the Education Corner that will see representation from the region’s top culinary institutions. This is why our cover story this month features UAE’s very own Chef Arivu Ravi who (along with Chef Marcus Gericke from South Africa) is representing the Middle East and Africa at the Global Chefs Challenge finale. We found out more about his preparation leading into what is arguably the world’s biggest culinary competition for professional chefs.

There will also be two other global competitions as part of this. The Global Pastry Chefs Challenge will see UAEbased ML Aravinda Leelarathna, Qatarbased Roderick San Jose, Egyptian Chef Samy Haroum and South African Chef Arno Ralph representing the Middle East and Africa.

And the Global Young Chefs Challenge will see UAE-based Leo Robin Rozario represent the Middle East and Africa region. We wish all the chefs from our region the very best in the global finals.

This month’s issue is also packed with some amazing interviews of both junior and senior chefs who are making their mark in the culinary space. We have young chefs Srikanth Muthangi and Gayan Indika Wijethunga from Zero Gravity Dubai, whose recipes and plating have to be seen.

We also have exclusive interviews with Chef Moritz Neumann, the German Culinary Director of JW Marriott Marquis Hotel; Chef Devopriyo Gupta, the Indian Cluster Pastry Chef for Address Dubai Mall and Address Boulevard; Italian Chef Andrea Fioravanti, the Executive Chef of Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah; and Indian Chef Praveen Ramakrishnan, Executive Pastry Chef of The Cove Rotana Resort Ras Al Khaimah.

The insights they provide into their culinary journey is worth a read for those looking for inspiration as well as for those who want to learn from the lessons that helped them get to their high-ranking positions.

All this and more in the edition you hold in your hands. Don’t miss our next month’s issue which will be a special edition combined with the Worldchefs magazine.

Until next time, enjoy the read and keep cooking with passion.

Aquin George

Editor

CREDITS

FROM US. FOR US. gulf

THE MAGAZINE CHEFS LOVE TO READ MAY 2022

www.gulfgourmet.net myChefID

volume 17, issue 5

PLAYING TO WIN

Arivu Ravi, Senior Sous Chef at Hell’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay Dubai, is all set to represent the UAE this month at the finals of the Global Chefs Challenge

DER KÜCHENMEISTER

Exclusive interview with Chef Moritz Neumann, Culinary Director, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai

ITALIAN PASSION

Andrea Fioravanti, Executive Chef, Waldorf Astoria Palm Jumeirah makes cooking a celebration

SUGAR RUSH

Conversation with Praveen Ramakrishnan, Executive Pastry Chef of The Cove Rotana Resort RAK

EMIRATES Uwe Micheel

CULINARY GUILD President +971 4 340 3128, theguild@eim.ae

EDITORIAL Aquin George

Managing Editor & Publisher

Amaresh Bhaskaran

Associate Publisher & Photo Editor

Vahiju PC

Art Director

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Gulf Gourmet is a registered trademark with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office and licensed by the National Media Council in the UAE. All material appearing in Gulf Gourmet is copyright unless otherwise stated or it may rest with the provider of the supplied material. The publisher accepts no responsibility or liability for the accuracy of any information contained in the text or advertisements. Views expressed are not necessarily endorsed by the editor and publisher.